Saturday, February 28, 2009

Spending Sunday at the Asian; Free films AND free admission

Zorig Chusum: The 13 Traditional Handicrafts

10:00 am–1:00 pm

(Directed by Werner Wiedling, 2003, in English)

This four-part series is comprised of rare films commissioned by the Royal Government of Bhutan to document the country’s thirteen traditional handicrafts (zorig chusum). Among the crafts featured are: Woodworking, textile arts, painting, pottery, slate-carving, metalworking, papermaking, block prints, and calligraphy.

At 2 PM: Bhutan:Taking the Middle Path to Happiness is a feature documentary film featuring the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan and the Government’s effort to bring "Gross National Happiness" to its people. Imagine a country where happiness is the guiding principal of government. Imagine a people who see all life as sacred and the source of their happiness, a place with an abundance of clean and renewable energy, a nation committed to preserving its culture. Imagine a Kingdom where the King lives in a simple wooden cottage and judges his progress by the country's "Gross National Happiness." Can a place like Bhutan really exist? Can such ideals be realized? Can this small, geographically isolated country tucked away in the Himalayans truly protect its environment and culture as they open their doors to the West? All events are freeAsian Museum Y-Tube Page (how cool is this?): http://www.youtube.com/user/AsianArtMuseum